Campbell University

Bob Burke Photo Gallery

Bob Burke '69 followed his collegiate mentors Fred McCall and Danny Roberts into the coaching ranks immediately after his graduation in 1969.  He guided Wallace-Rose Hill High School to a state Final Four appearance in two seasons before moving to the college level.  In 25 years as a collegiate head coach, Burke amassed 454 career victories (and only 258 losses), including a 419-217 mark in 22 years at Chowan College.  After serving a successful three-year stint as head coach at Greensboro College, Burke was an assistant coach for Campbell's 1974-75 team which posted a 25-6 record and set a school single season wins record that stands to this day. 

He was appointed head coach at Chowan in 1980 and led the Braves to three National Junior College Athletic Association Tournaments and twelve 20-win seasons in 13 years before the College moved to four-year status in 1993-94.  One of his finest Chowan players, Nate McMillan, is now the head coach of the NBA's Indiana Pacers (and former head coach of the Seattle Super Sonics and Portland Trailblazers) following an outstanding playing career at N.C. State and later in the NBA.  Burke, who served on the staff of the Campbell Basketball School for more than 30 years, left his head coaching position at Chowan in 2002 to serve as an assistant coach at the University of Hawaii and later moved on to an assistant position with the Portland Trailblazers.  He was inducted into the Chowan Hall of Fame in 2000 and the Helms Center playing surface was named in his honor in 2016.
Burke passed away Apr. 4, 2020.